Happily all the top cars got through the opening Molls Gap stage despite the conditions being very difficult with low cloud, some rain and wet roads.
Fastest man Eamonn Boland reported no problems, but first on the road Gareth MacHale told of his Focus windscreen misting up.
Tim McNulty had a good run while Derek McGarrity reckoned he was too ambitious in picking slick dry weather tyres.
Local man Donie O’Sullivan was expected to really go for it on that opening test but Donie’s Subaru sustained a right hand puncture on the way down the Gap.
Dessie Keenan was well in the hunt in his first run in Niall Maguire’s Subaru. Dessie said. “That was just a test session”.
Colm Murphy was fastest of the group N runner. Kevin Kelleher was 20s down and admitted it didn’t feel great. Kevin’s Lancer got a new turbo fitted after the test stage last night.
Darren Gass is driving Garry Jennings’ Lancer today and he lost time. Darren stopped before the Gap and then finished the stage with the hazard lights going.
Evo Challenge leader Alan Carmichael was slightly off the pace, reckoned his car wasn’t handling very well. Whereas Owen Murphy had a great time of 10.13.2, just 3s down on Colm Murphy.
Phil Collins was fastest of the Modified division although just 2s up on Wesley Patterson.
The weather forecast for today is for mostly cloudy with outbreaks of rain and drizzle. Sunday is looking better with just isolated showers.
The 3rd run over the Tim Healy Pass stage, which would have been stage 9, is not now taking place for technical reasons.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net (with thanks to Padraig Reddington)
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